A paper heart with tissue paper roses (or at least a pathetic attempt at them) when I was in kindergarten. I made it for my father for Father's Day. I always sucked at papercrafts and art-type projects. Show me a performing art, or culinary art, and I could do it. But visual arts? Unless you count photography, I sucked.
And that pathetic paper heart I made my dad? He kept it for at least 20 years. I think that's where I learned my appreciation for gifts, no matter who gave them, or the reason they were given.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Book review: The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross
I started playing in a Steampunk tabletop game a few months ago, and while I'm somewhat familiar with Steampunk culture I thought reading a bit more about common technologies and society structure couldn't hurt. It was research of a sort, but the most fun kind! And hey, I found the book for 60% off when Borders was going out of business, so even if it wasn't that good it wasn't a big loss.
As the The Girl in the Steel Corset was categorized as a teen novel, I didn't have very high expectations and thought it would be an easy read. But the book pleasantly surprised me in how GOOD it was! The characters of the novel are all teens, and have the required amount of teen angst, but not the excessive Twilight kind. I smiled at the angst rather than rolling my eyes (or wanting to claw them out). The story also found a way to pull in many classics of Victorian science fiction, as well as tidbits of Victorian history, in a very non-cheesy way. The parents of of the main characters made a journey to the center of the earth - but the focus was more on what was found there and how those items could be used, rather than the journey itself. There was the prerequisite inclusion of automatons, but it wasn't excessive. Psychic abilities and ghosts are explained in a simple way, but a logical one.
The story took so many of the things I love about the Steampunk phenomena (strong women, steamcycles, chivalrous romance, and alternative science) as well as some of the things I usually don't like (mechanical limbs, dreadlocked girls, Queen Victoria herself, and gunslingers) and combined them in such a way that I liked everything. In fact, the only drawback to the book is that is the first of a series...and the only one published thus far.
So great job, Kady Cross! PLEASE keep them coming!
As the The Girl in the Steel Corset was categorized as a teen novel, I didn't have very high expectations and thought it would be an easy read. But the book pleasantly surprised me in how GOOD it was! The characters of the novel are all teens, and have the required amount of teen angst, but not the excessive Twilight kind. I smiled at the angst rather than rolling my eyes (or wanting to claw them out). The story also found a way to pull in many classics of Victorian science fiction, as well as tidbits of Victorian history, in a very non-cheesy way. The parents of of the main characters made a journey to the center of the earth - but the focus was more on what was found there and how those items could be used, rather than the journey itself. There was the prerequisite inclusion of automatons, but it wasn't excessive. Psychic abilities and ghosts are explained in a simple way, but a logical one.
The story took so many of the things I love about the Steampunk phenomena (strong women, steamcycles, chivalrous romance, and alternative science) as well as some of the things I usually don't like (mechanical limbs, dreadlocked girls, Queen Victoria herself, and gunslingers) and combined them in such a way that I liked everything. In fact, the only drawback to the book is that is the first of a series...and the only one published thus far.
So great job, Kady Cross! PLEASE keep them coming!
NaBloPoMo prompt for December 2: What was the most disappointing gift you received as a child?
This is hard for me to remember. I learned to appreciate gifts early so any gift was a good one. My family was solidly middle class, but I can't remember a Christmas or birthday where I didn't get what I wanted. I kind of remember my sixth birthday was not great, but there was lot going on in my family during that time.
I suppose my 12th birthday - where my gift from my parents was a bedroom redecorated in pink - was rather disappointing. I'm not a pink person, and never have. I spent the summer away from my family, so arriving home to a pink room was definitely not joyful. Another long and interesting story.
I suppose my 12th birthday - where my gift from my parents was a bedroom redecorated in pink - was rather disappointing. I'm not a pink person, and never have. I spent the summer away from my family, so arriving home to a pink room was definitely not joyful. Another long and interesting story.
NaBloPoMo prompt for December1: What was the first tangible gift you remember receiving?
The first gift I remember was a pair of ballet shoes, bought by my grandmother. She had also signed me up for ballet class, and I loved it. She even bought me my first tutu. She came to every recital, and often picked me up from class.
Though I don't dance much anymore, I still love it when I do. Dancing is something that has been part of me for pretty much my entire life. I've learned 4 different forms of dance in my life. It was something in me, something that just flowed from me when the music started. There have been two things I have been able to do for pretty much entire life: cook and dance.
Though I don't dance much anymore, I still love it when I do. Dancing is something that has been part of me for pretty much my entire life. I've learned 4 different forms of dance in my life. It was something in me, something that just flowed from me when the music started. There have been two things I have been able to do for pretty much entire life: cook and dance.
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